System and method for bass enhancement

ABSTRACT

A system and method for enhancing the real and/or perceived bass band of an audio signal is disclosed. A computationally simple yet effective bass band enhancement system for use in consumer electronics applications is disclosed. An audio processing system including bass enhancement functionality for use in a mobile audio system is disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for processingan audio signal. In particular, it is directed towards systems andmethods for enhancing the real and perceived bass band of an audiosignal. Furthermore, it is directed towards systems and methods forenhancing audio performance in mobile audio applications.

Background

Audio signal reproduction, particularly in the lower frequency portionof the audio spectrum (e.g. bass spectrum), is generally limited by thenature and design of loudspeakers. In order to provide an audio signalwith adequate bass loudness, one generally requires a large speakerarea, a large excursion limit, and significant input power in order tomove sufficient amounts of the surrounding fluid (e.g. air) to achievethe desired audible loudness.

Under the constraints of limited power availability and severe sizerestrictions, many modern audio systems employ algorithmic means forenhancing the bass spectrum of an audio signal (e.g. as opposed toutilizing large loudspeakers). It is well known in the art of audiosignal processing that the impression of bass in an audio signal may beenhanced by the addition of harmonics of a bass fundamental tone to theaudio signal without adding the fundamental tone itself. The harmonictones suggest a fundamental tone even if the sound lacks a component atthe fundamental frequency itself. The brain of a listener generallyperceives the pitch of a tone not only by its fundamental frequency, butalso via the higher harmonics. Thus, the brain of a listener assumesthat the fundamental tone is there when the harmonic tones areregistered, and therefore the listener may perceive the same pitch(perhaps with a different timbre) even if the fundamental frequency ismissing from a tone. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as themissing fundamental phenomenon or psychoacoustic bass enhancement.

Algorithmic implementation of psychoacoustic bass enhancement may beparticularly useful when the audio content is to be reproduced by smallloudspeakers as mentioned above (e.g. as is the reality for the majorityof modern mobile audio applications).

Yet psychoacoustic bass enhancement itself is not without significantlimitations. The process adds a perceived distortion to the audiosignal, which may be significant and distracting with certain forms ofaudio content (e.g. instrumental music).

A purer form of bass signal improvement is a real bass enhancementmethod, which may provide a superior audio experience versus apsychoacoustic bass enhancement. Yet, real bass enhancement is oftenhampered by the excursion limits and large signal distortion of theloudspeakers used in an audio processing system.

Thus there is a problem to determine whether or not psychoacoustic bassenhancement and/or real bass enhancement should be implemented in anaudio stream and if so, to what degree either or both methods should beimplemented.

SUMMARY

One objective of this disclosure is to provide a system and method forenhancing the real and/or perceived bass band of an audio signal.Another objective is to provide a computationally simple yet effectivebass band enhancement system for use in consumer electronicsapplications. Yet another objective is to provide an audio processingsystem including bass enhancement functionality for use in a mobileaudio system.

The above objectives are wholly or partially met by devices, systems,and methods according to the appended claims in accordance with thepresent disclosure. Features and aspects are set forth in the appendedclaims, in the following description, and in the annexed drawings inaccordance with the present disclosure.

According to a first aspect there is provided, a bass enhancement systemfor producing an enhanced output signal from an input signal including acompressor configured to accept the input signal or a signal derivedtherefrom, including a compressor function to produce a first enhancedsignal related to the input signal, and a control algorithm to producean internal control signal related to one or more parameters of theinput signal; a psychoacoustic bass enhancement block (PAB) configuredto accept the internal control signal and the input signal or a signalderived therefrom, including a PAB function to produce a second enhancedsignal dependent on the input signal and the internal control signal;and a combination block for mixing the first enhanced signal and thesecond enhanced signal to form the enhanced output signal.

In aspects, the bass enhancement system may include one or more filters(e.g. a low-pass, band-pass, and/or high-pass or the like) configured toaccept the input signal so as to derive a signal therefrom and deliverthe resulting signal to the compressor and/or PAB.

In aspects, the compressor function may include a limiter. The limitermay include a threshold parameter and may be configured to limit a powerlevel of the first enhanced signal based upon the threshold parameter.The compressor may be configured to accept an external control signaland the threshold parameter may be dependent on the external controlsignal. The compressor may include a real bass enhancement function.

In aspects, the internal control signal may be related to a strengthsignal (e.g. a power signal, instantaneous power signal, averaged powersignal, frequency band averaged signal, peak signal, an envelope, afiltered envelope, a Kalman-filtered power estimation technique, noisepower spectral density, loudspeaker excursion estimators, anautocorrelation parameter, etc.) derived from the input signal or asignal derived therefrom.

In aspects, the PAB function may include a harmonic overtone generator(HOG) configured to derive one or more harmonics from the input signaland to add a proportion of the harmonics to the second enhanced signaldependent upon the internal control signal. The PAB function may includea clipper, an integrator, a multiplier, a convolution, a rectifier, apiecewise linear shaping function, a nonlinear transfer function, and/oran asymmetric polynomial function to calculate at least a portion of thesecond enhanced signal.

In aspects, the bass enhancement system may include a band generator,with one or more filters. One or more of the filters may be configuredto generate one or more filtered signals from the input signal. Thecompressor and/or PAB may be configured to accept one or more of thefiltered signals. The filters may include one or more cut-offfrequencies, which may be dependent on an external control signal and/orthe internal control signal.

In aspects, the bass enhancement system may include a controllerconfigured to accept the input signal and to generate the externalcontrol signal. The controller may be configured to accept a feedbacksignal, and the external control signal may be dependent on the feedbacksignal.

According to another aspect there is provided, a method for producing anenhanced output signal with improved bass from an input signal includingthe steps of compressing the input signal or a signal derived therefromto form a first enhanced signal; generating one or more harmonics fromthe input signal or a signal derived therefrom to form at least aportion of a second enhanced signal; monitoring one or more parametersof the input signal or a signal derived therefrom to form a strengthsignal; and mixing the first enhanced signal and the second enhancedsignal in proportions dependent on the strength signal to form theenhanced output signal.

In aspects, the method may include limiting the first enhanced signalbased on a threshold parameter (e.g. a signal strength parameter, a userinput, a control signal value, a volume scale, a power setting [e.g.ultra-low power, low power, full power, etc.], a trade-off between audioquality and power, a filter frequency, etc.).

In aspects, the method may include accepting an external control signal,and setting the threshold parameter based upon the external controlsignal.

According to yet another aspect there is provided, a method for bassenhancing an audio input signal to produce an enhanced output signalincluding isolating one or more band signals from the audio inputsignal; amplifying one or more of the band signals with an adjustablegain parameter to form a first enhanced signal; applying apsychoacoustic audio enhancement algorithm to one or more band signalsto form a second enhanced signal; delaying one or more band signals toform a delayed signal; and mixing the delayed signal, the first enhancedsignal and the second enhanced signal to produce the enhanced outputsignal.

The method may include monitoring one or more band signals to produce astrength signal. The mixing, the amplifying and/or the psychoacousticaudio enhancement algorithm may be dependent upon the strength signal.

According to another aspect there is provided, use of a bass enhancementsystem in accordance with the present disclosure in a consumerelectronic device. Some non-limiting examples of suitable consumerelectronic devices include a loudspeaker driver, a cellular phone, atablet computer, a laptop computer, a portable media player, atelevision, a portable gaming device, a gaming console, a gamingcontroller, a remote control, an appliance, a power tool, a robot, atoy, a greeting card, a home entertainment system, and the like.

According to yet another aspect there is provided, use of a bassenhancement system in accordance with the present disclosure in an audioprocessing system.

According to yet another aspect there is provided, a system forenhancing an audio signal including a means for isolating one or morefrequency bands (e.g. band-1, band-2, band-3, band-m, band-n signals,etc.) from the audio signal, an adjustable gain enhancement (AGE)function configured to modify one or more band signals (e.g. the band-nsignal), a psychoacoustic enhancement block (PAB) configured to act uponone or more of the band signals (e.g. the band-m signal), and anadaptive controller, configured for weighting the output of the PABblock and/or the AGE function to produce the enhanced audio signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a shows an illustrative example of a bass enhancement system inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1b shows some illustrative examples of signals that may begenerated within a compressor in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2a,b show some illustrative examples of an adaptive psychoacousticbass block and a compressor in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3a-d show another illustrative example of a bass enhancementsystem, associated signals and signal relationships in accordance withthe present disclosure

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative example of a controller and someillustrative feedback mechanisms in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 5-6 show illustrative examples of bass enhancement systems inaccordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are describedhereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, thedisclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure and may beembodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are notdescribed in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure inunnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentdisclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Likereference numerals may refer to similar or identical elements throughoutthe description of the figures.

FIG. 1a shows an illustrative example of a bass enhancement system 10 inaccordance with the present disclosure. The bass enhancement system 10is configured to accept an input signal, S_(in) 5 from an audio source(not explicitly shown) and an (optional) external control signal,S_(ctrl) 15 from an external control source (not explicitly shown) toproduce an enhanced signal, S_(out) 55. The bass enhancement system 10includes a psychoacoustic bass enhancement block (PAB) 30 and acompressor 20. The compressor 20 is configured to accept the inputsignal 5 or a related signal thereof (e.g. filtered, resampled, clipped,input signal 5, etc.), and the external control signal 15, and toproduce a first enhanced signal 25 and an internal control signal 35.The PAB 30 is configured to accept the input signal 5 or a relatedsignal therefrom (e.g. filtered, resampled, clipped, input signal 5,etc.) and the internal control signal 35, and to produce a secondenhanced signal 45. The first enhanced signal 25 and the second enhancedsignal 45 are combined (e.g. added, mixed, etc.) in a combination block40 to produce the enhanced signal 55.

The input signal 5 may be a broad band audio signal, a modified audiosignal, or the like.

In aspects, the system 10, the PAB 30 and/or the compressor 20 mayinclude one more filters (e.g band pass filters, low pass filters, highpass filters, adaptable filters, polyphase FIR filters, FIR filters,etc.) for isolating one or more frequency bands (e.g. band-1, band-2,band-3, band-m, band-n signals, etc.) from the input signal 5 forfurther analysis and/or enhancement. In one non-limiting example, thecompressor 20 may include filter for isolating a portion of the inputsignal content residing roughly within the bass audio range (e.g. 10-80Hz, 30-60 Hz, 35-50 Hz, 100-300 Hz, 120-250 Hz, etc.). The compressor 20may be configured to adjust the bandwidth limits of the filter inreal-time (e.g. as directed by the external control signal 15).

In aspects, the system 10 may be embedded in an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) or be provided as a hardware descriptivelanguage block (e.g. VHDL, Verilog, etc.) for integration into a systemon chip (SoC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), or a digital signal processor(DSP) integrated circuit.

The system 10 may be implemented partially and/or wholly in software. Inthis non-limiting example, the system 10 may be implementedalgorithmically as software for use on a general processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), or the like.

The compressor 20 may be configured to generate a first enhanced signal25 with enhanced gain applied to one or more frequency bands of theinput signal 5 (e.g. applied to a bass band portion thereof, etc.). Thecompressor 20 may include a compressor function, optionally dependent onthe control signal 15, that acts upon the input signal 5 or a filteredversion thereof (e.g. a band pass filtered version, a low pass filteredversion, etc.) to generate the first enhanced signal 25. The compressorfunction may be a piecewise linear relationship, a limiting function, anexponential function, combination thereof, or the like.

In one non-limiting example, the compressor function may be configuredas a hard limit as outlined below:

$\begin{matrix}{S_{fes} = \begin{Bmatrix}{A*S_{in}} & {P_{in} \leq P_{th}} \\{\frac{P_{th}}{P_{in}}S_{in}} & {P_{in} > P_{th}}\end{Bmatrix}} & {{equation}\mspace{14mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

where P_(in) is a strength signal derived from the input signal, S_(in)5 or an equivalently filtered signal (e.g. a low pass filtered inputsignal, band-pass filtered input signal, etc.), P_(th) is a thresholdvalue, A is a gain parameter, and S_(fes) represents the first enhancedoutput signal 25 from the compressor 20. The gain parameter A may bepre-configurable, related to the external control signal 15, a real-timecontrol parameter, etc. The relationship may include several piecewiselinear segments to efficiently shape the relationship in someapplications.

In another non-limiting illustrative example, the function may be anon-linear relationship, such as outlined below:S _(fes) =P _(th)(1−sgn(S _(in))exp[−a*|S _(in)|])  equation 2where S_(in) represents the input signal 5 or an equivalently filteredsignal derived therefrom (e.g. low pass filtered, band pass filtered,etc.), sgn(x) is a sign function, a is an optionally adjustable gainparameter, P_(th) is a threshold value, optionally related to the poweror strength of the input signal 5 or an equivalently filtered versionthereof. The nonlinear relationship may be implemented in a customizedhardware descriptive language block, a functionally equivalent hardwareelement (e.g. a diode, an exponential simulator, etc.), in software(e.g. as part of an audio processing algorithm), or the like.

Some non-limiting PAB algorithms for implementation within the PAB 30include a clipper, an integrator, a multiplier, a convolution, arectifier, a piecewise linear shaping function, a nonlinear transferfunction, an asymmetric polynomial function, combinations thereof, orthe like.

In one non-limiting example, the PAB 30 includes a rectifier in seriesconnection with a gain limiter, the rectifier configured to generateharmonics from the input signal 5 (or signal generated therefrom) andthe gain limiter, controlled by the control signal 35, configured tolimit the amount of harmonics in the second enhanced signal 45 duringuse. The rectifier may be calculated as below:S _(s) _(_) _(int) =|S _(in)|  equation 3a

where S_(in) represents the input signal 5 or an equivalently filteredsignal derived therefrom (e.g. low pass filtered, band pass filtered,etc.), S_(s) _(_) _(int) represents an intermediate rectified signal forgenerating even ordered harmonics of the input signal 5.

The second enhanced output signal 45 may be calculated from theintermediate rectified signal by a limiter, a gain controlled filter,etc. the gain, limiting parameters, etc. of which may be controlled bythe internal control signal 35.

In aspects, the second enhanced signal 45 may be calculated according toa configurable FIR filter suitable for shaping the harmonics. Such animplementation may be calculated by:S _(ses) [n]=Σ _(i=0) ^(N)δ_(i) S _(s) _(_) _(int) [n−i]  equation 3b

where S_(s) _(_) _(int)[n] is the n^(th) sample of the intermediaterectified signal, S_(ses)[n] is the second enhanced output signal 45,and δ_(i) are the filter coefficients, which may be at least partiallyderived or adaptably controllable by the internal control signal 35. TheFIR function is of order N. The overall gain of the FIR filter may becontrolled by the internal control signal 35 so as to limit and/or shapethe harmonics generated within the PAB 30.

In aspects, the PAB 30 may include an asymmetric polynomial function asoutlined below:

$\begin{matrix}{S_{ses} = \begin{Bmatrix}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{Nc}{c_{i}\left( S_{in} \right)}^{i}} & {P_{th} \leq P_{in} < P_{{th}\; 2}} & {S_{in} > 0} \\{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{Na}{a_{i}\left( S_{in} \right)}^{i}} & {P_{in} < P_{th}} & {S_{in} > 0} \\{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{Nb}{b_{i}\left( S_{in} \right)}^{i}} & {P_{in} < P_{th}} & {S_{in} < 0} \\{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{Nd}{d_{i}\left( S_{in} \right)}^{i}} & {P_{th} \leq P_{in} < P_{{th}\; 2}} & {S_{in} < 0}\end{Bmatrix}} & {{equation}\mspace{14mu} 4}\end{matrix}$

where S_(in) represents the input signal 5 or an equivalently filteredsignal derived therefrom (e.g. low pass filtered, band pass filtered,etc.), coefficients a_(i), b_(i), c_(i) and d_(i), limits Na, Nb, Nc,and Nd are the orders of each polynomial respectively, and S_(ses)represents the second enhanced output signal 45 from the PAB 30, P_(th)is a threshold value below which the PAB 30 may output a significantlyreduced signal, and P_(th2) is a second threshold that may represent anultimate acceptable power level for the system. Between threshold valuesP_(th) and P_(th2) the PAB 30 may output increasingly more significantharmonics with increasing strength level of P_(in) (e.g. via the controlsignal 35 from the compressor 20). The asymmetric polynomial functionmay be configured to limit the output of the second enhanced outputsignal 45 when the strength signal P_(in) is greater than the highestthreshold value P_(th2).

The polynomial coefficients a_(i), b_(i), c_(i) and d_(i) may beconfigured so as to give the overall smooth relationship with continuous1^(st) and 2^(nd) derivatives that is monotonically increasing,asymmetric in S_(in) (in order to generate odd and even harmonics), andsuch that S_(ses) is zero or near zero when S_(in) is zero (or anequivalent digital signal level used to represent a null input value).

The limits Na, Nb, Nc, and Nd may be selected so as to limit higherorder derivatives of the relationship (i.e. so as to substantiallyreduce higher order harmonics). In one non-limiting example, the limitsmay be set to a finite value (e.g. 3, 4).

In aspects, the asymmetric polynomial function may be configured withinthe PAB 30 such that the PAB 30 may remove the fundamental signal (e.g.S_(in) or a filtered version thereof) from the second enhanced outputsignal 45.

The PAB 30 may be configured so as to prevent calculation of theasymmetric polynomial function when the strength signal is less than apredetermined threshold value (e.g. when the strength signal issufficiently low such that the entire output signal may be formedoutside of the PAB 30).

FIG. 1b shows some illustrative examples of signals that may begenerated within a compressor in accordance with the present disclosure.A graph relating an input signal power level to a related output signalis shown (both axes are shown with logarithmic scales in this example).An input power level threshold Th_(in) 77, and output power levelthreshold Th_(out) 69 may be preconfigured, adjusted by the externalcontrol signal 15, or the like. A proportional signal 65 is shown,directly related to the input signal 5 (or filtered version thereof). Adamping factor 67 may be calculated as the difference between theproportional signal 65 and the output power level threshold Th_(out) 69.

FIG. 1b includes several illustrative examples of relationships betweenthe power of an input signal 5 and the power of a first enhanced signal25 as calculated within the compressor 20. One non-limiting example,shown in the solid line 71 is a hard limited relationship as calculatedin one illustrative example by equation 1. Another non-limiting exampleis shown by the dashed line 73, wherein a smoothly varying non-linearrelationship is used to calculate the first enhanced signal 25 from theinput signal 5 (or filtered version thereof) as calculated in oneillustrative example by equation 2. Some non-limiting examples ofsuitable non-linear relationships include piecewise linearrelationships, polynomial relationships, hyperbolic relationships,exponential/logarithmic relationships, etc. Another non-limiting exampleis shown by the dotted line 75, wherein the output signal gain isdecreased at predetermined thresholds (e.g. by changing the gainparameter A, by bit shifting the input signal 5, etc.). Such animplementation may be advantageous for use in a hardware efficientimplementation of the compressor. The compressor may include a filterinserted after the function block. The filter may be used to soften orsmooth any discontinuities that may be present in the function.

The damping factor 67 or a signal derived therefrom may be used tocalculate the internal control signal 35. In one non-limiting example,the internal control signal 35 is directly proportional to the dampingfactor 67. In another non-limiting example, the internal control signal35 may be related to the damping factor 67 by via polynomial function,via a polyphase FIR filter, via a nonlinear function, an adaptivealgorithm, or the like.

The damping factor DF may be calculated from the strength signal,P_(in). The strength signal may be derived from the input signal, S_(in)(or filtered version thereof) in real-time. In one non-limiting example,the strength signal may be configured equal to the band-passed inputsignal. Some other non-limiting examples for calculating a strengthsignal from an associated input signal (or filtered version thereof)include, a power signal, instantaneous power signal, averaged powersignal, frequency band averaged signal, peak signal, an envelope, afiltered envelope, a Kalman-filtered power estimation technique, noisepower spectral density, loudspeaker excursion estimators, anautocorrelation parameter, or the like.

The compressor 20 may include a look-ahead buffer configured to ensurethat smooth changes are maintained in the damping factor DF when anincoming transient is detected on the input signal 5 or a filteredversion thereof.

The threshold value P_(th) may be related and/or configured by theexternal control signal 15. The threshold value may be related to acontrol parameter, set by an external system. In aspects, the thresholdparameter may be related to a volume scale, a power setting (e.g.ultra-low power, low power, full power, etc.), a trade-off between audioquality and power, or the like.

The compressor 20 may include an input filter (e.g. a band-pass filter,a low pass filter), a compression or limiting block, an output filter(e.g. a low-pass filter, etc.), a control unit (e.g. to calculate theinternal control signal 35).

In aspects, the PAB 30 may include a function to calculate a pseudo basssignal, a distortion signal, one or more harmonic signals, etc. from theinput signal 5 (or filtered signal derived therefrom). Thus the PAB 30may contribute one or more harmonic and/or distortive effects tocontribute at least a portion of the second enhanced signal 45. Thefunction may be a psychoacoustic bass enhancement algorithm as known toone skilled in the art. In aspects, the PAB 30 may be configured toadjust the amplitude, the harmonic and/or distortive effects based onthe internal control signal 35, the external control signal 15, or thelike.

In aspects, the PAB 30 may be configured so as to increase the magnitudeof at least a portion of the second enhanced signal 45 (e.g. the entiresignal, a limited band, a low pass band, PAB generated harmonics, etc.)in correlation with the internal control signal 35 (e.g. as may becalculated from a damping factor 67, an input signal power level, etc.).In one non-limiting example, the PAB 30 may be configured to limit thepsychoacoustic portion of the second enhanced signal 45 to zero oressentially zero until the input signal power level passes a signalstrength threshold, P_(th), after which the psychoacoustic portion ofthe second enhanced signal 45 is increased proportionally with the powerlevel beyond the signal strength threshold, P_(th).

In aspects, the bass enhancement system 10 may be configured so as toprovide a first enhanced signal 25 proportional to an input signal 5when the input signal 5 is of a substantially low power level (e.g. asignal with bass power level below strength signal threshold, P_(th)),while the output from the PAB 30 may be zero or substantially limitedover this same signal range. The enhanced output signal 55 may bepredominantly governed by the first enhanced signal 25 over this signalrange (e.g. the second enhanced signal 45 being essentially zero). Asthe strength of the input signal 5 or an aspect thereof (e.g. basssignal strength, etc.) increases, the bass enhancement system 10 may beconfigured to shift from an enhanced output signal 55 predominantlydetermined by the first enhanced signal 25, to an enhanced output signal55 predominantly determined by the second enhanced signal 45 as thestrength signal increased during use (e.g. as the signal strengthincreases, the first enhanced signal 25 becomes substantially limitedand is eventually eclipsed by the second enhanced signal 45). Such aconfiguration may be advantageous for balancing between high qualitybass enhancement and increased output power from a smaller mobilespeaker system (e.g. as included in a smartphone, a laptop, etc.).

FIGS. 2a,b show illustrative examples of an adaptive psychoacoustic bassblock (PAB) 30 and a compressor 20 each in accordance with the presentdisclosure. FIG. 2a shows an illustrative example of a PAB 30. The PAB30 may include a low pass filter 210, an adjustable harmonic overtonegenerator (adjustable HOG) 230, a high pass filter 220, a delay 240, acombination block 250, combinations thereof, or the like. The PAB 30 maybe configured to accept an input signal 5. The low pass filter 210 (e.g.a polyphase FIR filter, a decimator, etc.) may be configured to acceptthe input signal 5 and to produce a low passed signal 225. Theadjustable HOG 230 may be configured to accept the low passed signal 225and the internal control signal, S_(comp) 35 and apply one or morepsychoacoustic algorithms to produce a bass harmonic signal 235.

In aspects, the adjustable HOG 230 may be configured to output a nullsignal (e.g. no bass harmonic signal 235) in the case that the controlsignal 35 is zero or below a threshold value, and may increase theamplitude of the bass harmonic signal 235 in proportion to increases inthe internal control signal 35 (e.g. as generated by the compressor 20)beyond the threshold value.

In aspects, the adjustable HOG 230 may be configured to provide a signalwith substantially constant amplitude but the frequency range of theinput to the HOG 230 may be shifted according to the internal and/orexternal control signal so as to vary the proportion of the resultingenhanced signal related to the HOG 230 or the RB or compressor.

The adjustable HOG 230 may include a clipper, an integrator, amultiplier, a convolution, a rectifier, a piecewise linear shapingfunction, a nonlinear transfer function, an asymmetric polynomialfunction (e.g. some non-limiting examples of which are outlined inequations 3a-b and 4), and the like for generating the one or moreharmonics.

In aspects, the high pass filter 220 may be configured to accept theinput signal 5 to produce a high passed signal 215. The delay 240 may beconfigured to accept the high passed signal 215 and produce a delayedsignal 245. The combination block 250 may be configured to recombine thedelayed signal 245 and the bass harmonic signal 235 to produce thesecond enhanced signal 45. The combination block 250 may include anaddition function, mixing function, etc. The delay 240 may bepreconfigured to introduce a lag to the high passed signal 215 so as tokeep the phase delays between parallel signal chains in the bassenhancement system 10 synchronized during use.

FIG. 2b shows an illustrative example of a compressor 20 in accordancewith the present disclosure. The compressor 20 may include a compressorfilter 260, a real bass enhancement block (RB) 270, a shaper 280, and acontrol function 290. The compressor filter 260 is configured to acceptthe input signal 5 (or a portion thereof) and produce a bass band signal265. The filter 260 (e.g a band pass filter, low pass filter, high passfilter, adaptable filter, polyphase FIR filter, FIR filter, etc.) may beused to isolate one or more frequency bands (e.g. band-1, band-2,band-3, band-m, band-n signals, etc.) from the input signal 5 forfurther processing and/or enhancement. The filter 260 may be configuredto accept an external control signal, S_(ctrl4a) 285. The externalcontrol signal 285 may be used within the filter 260 to adjust afrequency cutoff, a gain, etc.

In aspects, the real bass enhancement block (RB) 270 may be configuredto accept the bass band signal 265 and produce an intermediate bassenhanced signal 275. In one non-limiting example, the RB 270 may includea linear gain function as described in equation 1, to amplify the bassband portion of an input signal 5 without significant addition ofdistortion. The shaper 280 may be configured to accept the intermediatebass enhanced signal 275 and to calculate a first enhanced signal 25.The shaper 280 may include a hard limit function, completing a portionof the function as described in equation 1. In this illustrativeexample, the RB 270 and the shaper 280 may fulfill the function asdescribed in equation 1.

Some non-limiting functionalities that may be provided by the RB 270include Linkwitz compensation, a graphical or parametric EQ, or thelike. In one non-limiting example, the RB 270 may include an inversefilter of an associated speaker and/or driver response configured tooutput against a target curve (e.g. a desired response) optionally witha lower roll-off than the uncompensated roll-off of the speaker.

In aspects, real bass enhancement block (RB) 270 may be located outsideof the compressor 20.

The shaper 280 may accept an external control signal, S_(ctrl4b) 295which may be used within the shaper 280 to control one or morerelationships and/or equation parameters (e.g. a threshold parameter, again parameter, etc.).

The shaper 280 may also produce a strength signal 296, related a one ormore aspects of the input signal 5, and/or the intermediate bassenhanced signal 275. In aspects, the strength signal 296 may becalculated by the shaper 280 from the input signal 5 and/or theintermediate bass signal 275 (or filtered version thereof) in the formof a power signal, instantaneous power signal, averaged power signal,frequency band averaged signal, peak signal, an envelope, a filteredenvelope, a Kalman-filtered power estimation technique, noise powerspectral density, loudspeaker excursion estimator, an autocorrelationparameter, combinations thereof, or the like.

The compressor 20 may include a control function 290 configured toaccept the strength signal 296 and produce an internal control signal35. In the absence of the control function 290, the internal controlsignal 35 may be equal to the strength signal 296. The control function290 may filter the strength signal 296 (e.g. low pass filter, band-passfilter, envelope filter, etc.). The internal control signal 35 may beaccepted by various blocks within the bass enhancement system 10, may beused to generate a feedback signal for delivery to an externalcontroller, etc.

The compressor 20 may include a look-ahead buffer configured to ensurethat smooth changes are maintained in the damping factor DF when anincoming transient is detected on the input signal 5 or a filteredversion thereof.

FIGS. 3a-d show another illustrative example of a bass enhancementsystem and some associated signals and signal relationships inaccordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 3a shows an illustrativeexample of a bass enhancement system including a band generator 310, acompressor 320, an adjustable psychoacoustic bass enhancement block(PAB) 330, a delay 340 and a combination block 350. The band generator310 may be configured to accept an input signal, S_(in) 5 and optionallyan external control signal, S_(ctrl1) 13, and to compute one or morefiltered signals 315 a-c. The band generator 310 may include a pluralityof filters (e.g. cross overs, band-pass filters, low pass filters,adaptive filters, etc.) to segment out one or more portions of the inputsignal 5 into the filtered signals 315 a-c. The filter parameters (e.g.cross over frequencies, gains, etc.) of the filters within the bandgenerator 310 may be adjustable in real-time, and may be controlled bythe external control signal 13, or the internal control signal (link notexplicitly shown) generated in the compressor 320. In one-non-limitingexample, the cross over frequencies of the filters (and subsequentlyfrequency content of the filtered signals 315 a-c) may be varied inreal-time by the external control signal 13.

The band generator 310 may include a control function (not explicitlyshown) for calculating a control signal from the input signal 5 and/orthe external control signal 13, for adjusting the filter parameters inreal-time. In aspects, the band generator 310 may be configured tooutput a filtered signal 315 a with frequency content in the bass audiorange (e.g. 10-80 Hz, 30-60 Hz, 35-50 Hz; for laptops and smartphones,50-300 Hz, 100-250 Hz; for loudspeakers 30-80 Hz, etc.). The bandgenerator 310 may include a high pass filter to remove exceptionally lowfrequency content (e.g. less than 100 Hz, less than 30 Hz, less than 10Hz, etc.) from the input signal 5. The compressor 320 in accordance withthe present disclosure may be configured to accept one or more filteredsignals 315 a, and optionally an external control signal, S_(ctrl1) 19,and to produce a first enhanced signal 335, and an internal controlsignal 365 (e.g. so as to control an associated PAB 330). The firstenhanced signal 335 may be limited or shaped within the compressor 320in accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects, the band generator 310 may limit the bandwidth of thefiltered signal 315 a delivered to the compressor based upon a strengthparameter of the input signal 5 or one or more of the filtered signals315 a-c (e.g. an power signal, filtered power signal, envelop signal,etc.). Thus the overall power level of the filtered signal 315 a may becapped in real-time based on variation in the cutoff frequencies of thefilters within the band generator 310.

In aspects, the compressor 320 may include a compressor filter, a realbass enhancement block (RB), a shaper, and a control function, each inaccordance with the present disclosure. The compressor 320 may beconfigured to accept a filtered signal 315 a and an external controlsignal 19 and produce a first enhanced signal 335 and an internalcontrol signal 365 in accordance with the present disclosure. One ormore functional components within the compressor 320 may be configuredto accept the external control signal, S_(ctrl4a) 285. The externalcontrol signal 285 may be used within the filter 260 to adjust afrequency cutoff, a gain, etc.

The compressor 320 may include a look-ahead buffer configured to ensurethat smooth changes are maintained in the damping factor DF when anincoming transient is detected on the input signal 5, a filtered signal315 a-c, or a related signal within the system.

The PAB 330 may be configured to accept a filtered signal 315 b, theinternal control signal 365 generated by the compressor 320, an externalcontrol signal S_(ctrl2) 17 and produce a second enhanced signal 345.The PAB 330 may generate harmonic content from the filtered signal 315 bin conjunction with the internal control signal 365 (e.g. optionally asan amplitude control), and the external control signal 17 (e.g.optionally as a system setting control, an enable signal, etc.). Inaspects, the second enhanced signal 345 may include substantiallynegligible harmonic content when the bass power level of the inputsignal 5 is below a threshold value. Upon an increase in the bass powerlevel of the input signal 5, increasing harmonic content may beincorporated into the second enhanced signal 345 by the PAB 330.

Some non-limiting PAB algorithms for implementation within the PAB 330include a clipper, an integrator, a multiplier, a convolution, arectifier, a piecewise linear shaping function, a nonlinear transferfunction, an asymmetric polynomial function (e.g. some non-limitingexamples of which are outlined in equations 3a-b and 4), and the like.

The delay 340 may be configured to accept the filtered signal 315 c(e.g. a high pass filtered input signal 5, a band pass filtered inputsignal 5, etc.) and produce a delayed signal 325. The delay 340 may beconfigured so as to ensure that all parallel signal chains (e.g. via thePAB 330, via the compressor 320, etc.) arrive synchronously at thecombination block 350.

The delayed signal 325, the first enhanced signal 335 and the secondenhanced signal 345 may be combined in the combination block 350, forexample by mixing, by adding, etc. to form the enhanced output signal,S_(out) 355.

In aspects, the compressor 320 may include a limiting function (e.g. toensure the power level of the first enhanced signal 335 is maintainedbelow a threshold value, etc.). Alternatively, additionally or incombination, a limiting function may be included in combination block350 or within the system after the combination block 350 in order toensure that the enhanced output signal 355 will not cause over-flow orclipping.

In aspects, the same filtered signal 315 a-c may be delivered to boththe compressor 320 and the PAB 330. The internal control signal 365,generated by the compressor 320 may be used to weight the individualcontribution from the PAB 330 and the compressor 320. Alternatively,additionally, or in combination, the filtered signals 315 a-c mayinclude overlapping portions, such portions optionally beingcontrollable by the internal control signal 365 and/or external controlsignal 13, 17, 19.

FIG. 3b shows an illustrative example of a low pass band 314 d, bandpass filters 314 a-b, and a high pass band 314 c that may be applied inthe band generator 310 to produce the filtered signals 315 a-c. In thisexample, the input signal 5 may be split so as to exclude a low passportion illustrated by the low pass band 314 d (a signal that may besufficiently low frequency so as to discard from further analysis), alow-band filter 314 b to produce the low-band filtered signal 315 b(e.g. for delivery to the PAB 330), a mid-band filter 314 a to produce amid-band filtered signal 315 a (e.g. for delivery to the compressor320), and a high pass filter 314 c to produce a high pass filteredsignal 315 c (e.g. for delivery to the delay 340). The cross overfrequencies 363, 366, 367 may be adjustable within the band generator310. In aspects, the cross over frequencies 363, 366, 367 may beadjusted so as to limit the signal power within one or more filteredsignals 315 a-c. The band generator 310 may adjust the gain associatedwith one or more the filters 314 a-c. Two illustrative adjustable gainparameters 361, 362 are shown associated with the filters 314 a, 314 brespectively. The adjustable gain parameters 361, 362 may be adjustedbased on an external control signal 13, a strength parameter of theinput signal (or portion thereof), etc. so as to adjust the gain of thefiltered signals 315 a,b independently.

FIG. 3c shows an illustrative example of some relationships 377, 379between a power level of the input signal 5 and/or one or more filteredsignals 315 a-c (or portion thereof) and a cut-off frequency used in thegeneration of one or more of the filtered signals 315 a-c (i.e. in thiscase the cross-over frequency located between a low band filter 314 band a mid-band filter 314 a). Two illustrative relationships 377, 379are shown.

In the piecewise linear relationship 377, the cross-over frequency ismaintained at a first frequency F₁ 366 when the power level of the inputsignal (or filtered equivalent thereof) is measured below a first powerthreshold Th₀ 370. As the power level of the input signal 5 increases,the cross-over frequency linearly shifts between the first frequency F₁366 and a second frequency F₂ 367 at a second power threshold Th₁ 371.In one-non limiting example, the energy associated with the mid-bandfiltered signal 315 a may be limited to a finite value and/or tend tozero as the power level increases past the second power threshold Th₁371. The power thresholds 370, 371 may be controlled by the externalcontrol signal 13, a power level of the input signal 5, and/or a powerlevel of one or more filtered signals 315 a-c, etc. The piecewise linearrelationship may include additional threshold values so as to tailor theinput-output relationship and power transitions for particularapplications.

In aspects, relating to the curved relationship 379, the cross-overfrequency may shift gradually from a first frequency F₁ 366 towards asecond frequency F₂ 367 as the power level of the input signal 5increases indefinitely. In the illustrative example shown, the curvedrelationship 379 may be substantially s-shaped, the overallcharacteristics of the s-shaped curve may be adjustable by the powerlevel thresholds 370, 371 and/or the frequencies 366, 367.

A range of relationships may be implemented so as to optimize and/orcustomize the relationships between the input signal 5 and the filteredsignals 315 a-c.

FIG. 3d shows a non-limiting illustrative example of aspects of a secondenhanced signal 345 as produced by an operable PAB 330. A low passedfilter 383 may be used to discard a portion of the input signal 5 thatis sufficiently low in frequency so as to be neglected from furtheranalysis (e.g. less than 100 Hz, less than 50 Hz, less than 20 Hz,etc.). A filtered band 385 associated with a filtered signal 315 b isshown sandwiched between a first cross-over frequency, F₀ 380, and asecond cross over frequency, F₁ 381. The associated filtered signal 315b may be operably delivered to a PAB 330. The PAB 330 may generate oneor more psychoacoustic signals from the filtered signal 315 b, thusgenerating one or more harmonics 387 for each tone of the filteredsignal 315 b.

The harmonics 387 may be shaped by the particular transfer function ofthe PAB 330. An illustrative example of a harmonic shaping envelope 389is shown so as to indicate this relationship. The values, fall-offthereof, and/or overall shaping of the harmonics 387 may be determinedby a psychoacoustic relationship (e.g. a human response curve, a systemcorrection frequency response, a response envelope, etc.). The harmonicportion of the second enhanced signal 345 may be produced from asummation of harmonics 387 associated with each tone of the filteredsignal 315 a within the filtered band 385. In one non-limiting examplethe shaping of the harmonics 385 may be achieved by a nonlinear functionwithin the PAB 30.

The harmonics shaping envelope 389 may also be dependent upon thecontrol signal 13. In aspects, the relationship between the input 5 andfiltered signals 315 a-c may be heavily weighted so as to favor onefiltered signal 315 a at low control signal 13 levels, and favor analternative filtered signal 315 b at relatively high control signal 13levels. Such a relationship may be advantageous for implementing adynamic loudness variant for the psychoacoustic aspects of an audioinput signal 5 in order to better match human perception levels. Theharmonics shaping envelope 389 may be adjustable from the externalcontrol signal 13 (e.g. slope adjustment, for different user settings,different power levels, etc.).

The PAB harmonics may be generated by a clipper, an integrator, amultiplier, a convolution, a rectifier, a piecewise linear shapingfunction, a nonlinear transfer function, an asymmetric polynomialfunction (e.g. some non-limiting examples of which are outlined inequations 3a-b and 4), and the like.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative example of a controller 420 and someillustrative feedback mechanisms in accordance with the presentdisclosure. The controller 420 may be configured to generate one or morecontrol signals, S_(ctrl) 495 (equivalently considered external controlsignals). The control signals 495 maybe used by various blocks in thebass enhancement system 10 to control gain adjustments, adapt filterparameters, or the like. The controller 420 may be configured to acceptthe input signal 5 to contribute to the generation of the controlsignals 495. In one non-limiting example, the controller 420 may beconfigured to accept the input signal 5 and to generate one or morecontrol signals 495 with an entirely feed forward signal path. Thecontroller 420 may be configured to accept a system control signalS_(sys) 415 to adjust one or more control signals 495.

The system control signal 415 may be a power management signal, a volumescale, a power setting (e.g. ultra-low power, low power, full power,etc.), a signal related to trade-off between audio quality and power, auser input signal, or the like.

The audio processing system may include a driver 430. The driver 430 maybe driven by an audio processing output signal 425, at least partiallydependent on the enhanced signal 55, 355. The driver 430 may beconfigured to generate one or more output signals 435 for driving one ormore loudspeakers 460, 470, loudspeaker driver modules 440, and/orintegrated circuits 450 included therein. The controller 420 may beconfigured to accept one or more feedback signals 445, 455, 465, 475,485 from one or more audio components within a complete audio signalprocessing system. Some non-limiting examples include current, voltage,and/or temperature feedback signal 465 from the driver 430, a current,voltage, displacement, temperature, and/or acceleration feedback signal455, 485 from one or more of the loudspeakers 460, 470, and a current,voltage, impedance, temperature, limiter, and/or envelop feedback signal475 from one or more integrated circuits 450 included in the audioprocessing system.

The controller 420 may be configured to accept an audio feedback signal445 as operably produced by one or more microphones 470 included in theaudio processing system. The controller 420 may be coupled to a feedbacksignal (not explicitly shown) from one or more accelerometers,gyroscopes, GPS sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, batterylife sensors, current sensors, magnetic field sensors, or the like.

A range of feedback algorithms may be implemented in the controller 420to relate the feedback signals 445, 455, 465, 475, 485 to the controlsignals 495. Some non-limiting examples of feedback algorithms includespeaker/drive temperature overload feedback, negative feedback based onone or more aspects of the audio feedback signal 445 (e.g. an amplitudebased feedback, a distortion based feedback, etc.), a distortionlimiting algorithm (e.g. via measurement of the audio feedback signal445), etc.

FIGS. 5-6 show illustrative examples of bass enhancement systems inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a bass enhancement system including a band generator 510, areal bass enhancement block (RB) 520, a limiter 530, an adjustableharmonic overtone generator (HOG) 540, a gain block 550, a delay 560 anda combination block 570. The band generator 510 may be configured toaccept an input signal 5 from an external source (not explicitly shown),a control signal, S_(ctrl1) 13 to generate one or more filtered signals515 a-c. The RB 520 may be configured to accept one or more filteredsignals 515 a and to produce an intermediate bass enhanced signal 525.

In one non-limiting example, the RB 520 may include a linear gainfunction as described in equation 1, to amplify the filtered signal 515a without significant addition of distortion.

In aspects, the limiter 530 may be configured to accept the intermediatebass enhanced signal 525 and to calculate a first enhanced signal 535.The limiter 530 may include a hard limit, as described in equation 1 toprevent the power and/or signal level of the intermediate bass enhancedsignal 525 from exceeding a threshold value. The threshold value may beconfigured by the control signal S_(ctrl2) 19. The limiter 530 mayproduce one or more internal control signals 585, 595 for use incontrolling one or more other blocks in the bass enhancement system. Oneor more of the control signals 585, 595 may be derived from an inputpower level, a strength signal, etc.

The delay 560 may be configured to accept a filtered signal 515 c and toproduce a delayed signal 565. The delay 560 may be preconfigured tointroduce a lag to the filtered signal 515 c so as to keep the phasedelays between parallel signal chains in the bass enhancement systemsynchronized during use.

The HOG 540 may be configured to accept a filtered signal 515 b and togenerate a psychoacoustic enhanced signal 545. The HOG 540 may beconfigured to accept an internal control signal 585 generated by thelimiter 530 so as to adjust the amplitude and/or parameters of thepsychoacoustic enhanced signal 545. The gain block 550 may be configuredto apply an adjustable gain (e.g. as controlled by a second internalcontrol signal 595 operably generated by the limiter 530) to thepsychoacoustic enhanced signal 545 to produce a second enhanced signal555.

The adjustable HOG 540 may include a clipper, an integrator, amultiplier, a convolution, a rectifier, a piecewise linear shapingfunction, a nonlinear transfer function, an asymmetric polynomialfunction (e.g. some non-limiting examples of which are outlined inequations 3a-b and 4), combinations thereof, or the like for generatingthe one or more harmonics.

The delayed signal 565, the second enhanced signal 555, and/or the firstenhanced signal 535 may be combined (e.g. added, mixed, etc.) in thecombination block 570 to produce an enhanced output signal S_(out) 575.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative example of a bass enhancement system inaccordance with the present disclosure. The bass enhancement system mayinclude a band generator 610, a compressor 620, a delay 630, anadjustable harmonic overtone generator (HOG) 640, a gain block 650, acombination block 660, and a controller 670 each in accordance with thepresent disclosure. The band generator 610 may be configured to acceptan input signal 5 from an external source (not explicitly shown), acontrol signal, S_(ctrl1) 685 a generated by the controller 670, togenerate one or more filtered signals 615 a-c. The compressor 620 mayaccept one or more filtered signals 615 a and produce a first enhancedsignal 625. The compressor may be configured to accept a control signalS_(ctrl5) 685 e from the controller 670 and generate an internal controlsignal 675 for feedback to the controller 670. The internal controlsignal 675 may be derived from and/or related to the input signal 5, thefiltered signal 615 a, etc.

In one non-limiting example, the internal control signal 675 may bederived from the power level of the input signal 5 (or filtered versionthereof), and/or one or more strength signals.

The compressor 620 may include a hard limit, as described in equation 1to prevent the power and/or signal level of the first enhanced signal625 from exceeding a threshold value. The threshold value may beconfigured by the control signal S_(ctrl5) 685 e and/or relate to ametric, power level, strength level of the filtered signal 615 a and/orthe input signal 5.

The compressor 620 may include a look-ahead buffer configured to ensurethat smooth changes are maintained in the damping factor DF when anincoming transient is detected on the input signal 5, a filtered signal615 a-c, or a related signal within the system.

The delay 630 may be configured to accept a filtered signal 615 c and toproduce a delayed signal 655. The delay 630 may be preconfigured tointroduce a lag to the filtered signal 615 c so as to keep the phasedelays between parallel signal chains in the bass enhancement systemsynchronized during use.

The HOG 640 may be configured to accept a filtered signal 615 b and togenerate a psychoacoustic enhanced signal 645. The HOG 640 may accept acontrol signal S_(ctrl2) 685 b generated by the controller 670 and/ororiginating from the internal control signal 675 so as to adjust theamplitude and/or parameters of the psychoacoustic enhanced signal 645.The gain block 650 may be configured to apply an adjustable gain (e.g.as controlled by a control signal S_(ctrl4) 685 d) to the psychoacousticenhanced signal 645 to produce a second enhanced signal 646.

The delayed signal 655, the second enhanced signal 646, and the firstenhanced signal 625 may be combined (e.g. added, mixed, etc.) in thecombination block 660 to produce an enhanced output signal S_(out) 665.

The controller 670 is configured to accept an input signal 5, a systemcontrol signal S_(sys) 605, one or more feedback signals S_(feed) 695,and/or the internal control signal 675 to produce one or more controlsignals 685.

The controller 420, 670 may include functions relating one or more ofthe control signals 495, 685 to one or more signal power levels, thepower of one or more signals in a particular frequency band, the peakexcursion of a loudspeaker, current draw from a speaker driver, a mixingalgorithm to adjust between filtered signals 315 a-c, 515 a-c, 615 a-c,an adjustable limiter parameter for tuning the amount of harmonics inthe one or more signals and optionally for adjusting the maximal speakerpower consumption, and/or one or more system parameters based on knownperformance metrics in order to ease into power limits associated withthe system, etc.

In aspects, the external control signal 15 may include an audio volumerelationship, a power management signal, a system acoustic parameter,etc.

The PAB 30, 330 and/or the HOG 230, 540, 640 may include one or morepsychoacoustic algorithms and variants, additional filters to maintainin-band output or to limit content in one or more alternative bands,etc.

The compressor 20, 320, 620 and/or the limiter 530 may include one ormore frequency dependent gain functions, system specific acousticcompensation coefficients, etc.

Another illustrative example is a system for enhancing an audio signalwith one or more audio bands (e.g. a bass band, a treble band, etc.)including a bass compressor, configured to amplify the bass band of theaudio signal to form a bass enhanced audio signal and to generate acontrol signal, a psychoacoustic enhancement block (PAB) configured togenerate a psychoacoustic enhanced signal from one or more bands of theaudio signal and the control signal; and mixer for generating anenhanced audio signal from the psychoacoustic enhanced signal and thebass enhanced signal.

Yet another illustrative example is a method for enhancing an audiosignal including isolating one or more band signals from the audiosignal, amplifying one or more band signals with an adjustable gainparameter, applying a psychoacoustic audio enhancement algorithm to oneor more band signals, generating one or more strength signals from oneor more parameters of the input signal, and mixing the band signalsbased on the strength signal to form an enhanced output signal. Inaspects, the method may include reducing or eliminating thepsychoacoustic audio portion of the enhanced output signal when thestrength signal is below a threshold value and increasing thepsychoacoustic audio portion of the enhanced output signal when thestrength signal is above the threshold value.

Another illustrative example is an audio processing apparatus for use ina mobile audio application (e.g. as part of a consumer electronicsdevice, a smartphone, etc.), including a bass enhancement system inaccordance with the present disclosure. Such a configuration may beadvantageous for maximizing the useful bandwidth and performanceavailable from generally undersized loudspeakers used in mobile audioapplications.

It will be appreciated that additional advantages and modifications willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosurespresented herein and broader aspects thereof are not limited to thespecific details and representative embodiments shown and describedherein. Accordingly, many modifications, equivalents, and improvementsmay be included without departing from the spirit or scope of thegeneral inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for bass enhancing an audio input signalto produce an enhanced output signal comprising: isolating a pluralityof band signals from the audio input signal; amplifying one or morefirst band signals with an adjustable gain parameter to form a firstenhanced signal; applying a psychoacoustic audio enhancement algorithmto one or more second band signals to form a second enhanced signal,wherein the psychoacoustic audio enhancement algorithm is controlledbased on the one or more first band signals; delaying one or more thirdband signals to form a delayed signal; and mixing the delayed signal,the first enhanced signal and the second enhanced signal to produce theenhanced output signal.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1,further comprising: monitoring one or more of the band signals toproduce a strength signal; and controlling at least one of the mixing,the amplifying and the psychoacoustic audio enhancement algorithmdependent upon the strength signal.
 3. The method in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising: monitoring the one or more first bandsignals to produce a strength signal; and controlling the psychoacousticaudio enhancement algorithm dependent upon the strength signal.
 4. Themethod in accordance with claim 1, wherein amplifying the one or morefirst band signals with the adjustable gain parameter comprises applyinga compressor function to form the first enhanced signal.
 5. The methodin accordance with claim 4, wherein the compressor function comprises alimiter having a threshold parameter, the limiter configured to limit apower level of the first enhanced signal based upon the thresholdparameter.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein thecompressor function is configured to accept an external control signal,the threshold parameter being dependent on the external control signal.7. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the compressorfunction comprises a non-linear algorithm to form the first enhancedsignal.
 8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the non-linearalgorithm is selected from a group consisting of a piecewise linearfunction, an exponential function, and a soft limiting function.
 9. Themethod in accordance with claim 1, wherein the applying includes apsychoacoustic bass enhancement block (PAB) function to form the secondenhanced signal, the PAB function comprising a harmonic overtonegenerator (HOG) configured to derive one or more harmonics from the oneor more second band signals and to add a proportion of the harmonics tothe one or more second band signals to form the second enhanced signal.10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the PAB functioncomprises a clipper, an integrator, a multiplier, a convolution, arectifier, a piecewise linear shaping function, a nonlinear transferfunction, and/or an asymmetric polynomial function to calculate at leasta portion of the second enhanced signal.
 11. The method in accordancewith claim 9, further comprising: determining a bass power level of theaudio input signal; adding substantially negligible harmonic content inresponse to determining that the bass power level of the audio inputsignal is below a threshold value; and if the bass power level of theaudio input signal is above the threshold value, adding harmonic contentthat depends on the bass power level.
 12. The method in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising isolating the plurality of band signals withfrequencies determined in dependence on a received control signal. 13.The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising delaying theone or more third band signals to such an extent that the delayedsignal, the first enhanced signal and the second enhanced signal aremixed substantially synchronously.
 14. A bass enhancement system forbass enhancing an audio input signal to produce an enhanced outputsignal, the system comprising: at least one filter configured forisolating a plurality of band signals from the audio input signal; anamplifier configured for amplifying one or more first band signals withan adjustable gain parameter to form a first enhanced signal; apsychoacoustic bass enhancement block configured for applying apsychoacoustic audio enhancement algorithm to one or more second bandsignals to form a second enhanced signal, wherein the psychoacousticaudio enhancement algorithm is controlled based on the one or more firstband signals; a delay block configured for delaying one or more thirdband signals to form a delayed signal; and a mixer configured for mixingthe delayed signal, the first enhanced signal and the second enhancedsignal to produce the enhanced output signal.
 15. A consumer electronicdevice comprising a bass enhancement system in accordance with claim 14,wherein the consumer electronic device is selected from a groupconsisting of a loudspeaker driver, a cellular phone, a tablet computer,a laptop computer, a portable media player, a television, a portablegaming device, a gaming console, a gaming controller, a remote control,an appliance, a power tool, a robot, a toy, a greeting card, and a homeentertainment system.